HelpAge International

Location: Flexible but an expectation of significant presence in the UK and for international travel

Salary: Competitive

HelpAge International promotes the wellbeing and inclusion of older women and men and reduces poverty and discrimination in later life. We promote the voice of older people in their ability to claim their rights, to make choices and to participate meaningfully in decision-making in all parts of their lives, including the personal, family, social and political. We also help older people have the voice, to challenge ageism and inequality.

There are over 170 member organisations in the HelpAge global network currently, who between them raise and spend well over £1bn annually on their work with and for older people in over 90 countries.

As the civil society organisation acknowledged as the expert on ageing and older people, HelpAge International enjoys particularly good access to and working relations across governmental and civil society bodies where we work. Our 450 staff, located through our 13 country offices and other locations have an excellent reputation for our work across humanitarian, international development and advocacy agendas on behalf of older people.

We act as a supporter, convenor and thought leader – supporting network members to build and share knowledge and expertise and to achieve greater impact with and for older people, through capacity building, organisational strengthening and resource development; convening stakeholders from different sectors and disciplines at national, regional and international levels and developing new thinking, matched with practical solutions, on specific issues related to global trends and their impacts on older people and population ageing.

We are now looking for our next Chief Executive Officer to build on our crucial work on behalf of older people and our strategy towards even greater impact, through localisation, partner led programming and a global operating model. They will be a compelling, inclusive and sensitive people leader, inspiring HelpAge International’s diverse stakeholders, both internal and external, to address the issues of global aging. They will act as an effective thought leader and ambassador for the organisation with the experience to mobilise the necessary resources.

The ideal candidate will have a track record of successful, senior executive strategic leadership in a similar or relatable complex, global organisation, likely achieved in the international development / humanitarian, or rights-based advocacy space, with a focus on underrepresented populations. You will bring a clear track record of leading change and of effective, executive level operational, financial and people management in a relatable organisational environment, with an evidenced ability to drive both advocacy and humanitarian agendas. You will bring knowledge and experience of work in the Global South and low and middle income countries. Values-led, collaborative and collegial, with an inclusive, listening, empowering approach, you will have excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

HelpAge International is dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all its employees/consultants while extending the culture of inclusion into our work. We believe that our workforce should reflect the wide diversity of the communities we serve, and that diverse voices should be elevated and intentionally integrated into our work. We embrace difference and diversity of identity, experience, and thought, and actively strive for inclusive behaviours across our organization and work regardless of gender, race, disability, age, nationality, ethnic/national origin, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, marital status, pregnancy, social status, and political beliefs.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to HelpAge International on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit using reference XBGQB. Alternatively telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by noon on 2 June 2023.